Compiled
by
Joe Novetsky
Sister Catherine Brennan
Sister Catherine Brennan, S.S.J., formerly Sister St. Johanna, died July
17, 2006 at the age of 83.
Born in Philadelphia, Sister Catherine entered the Sisters of St. Joseph
in 1942.
She served in the Philadelphia and Newark Archdioceses.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 19 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown.
Burial was at the community cemetery.
Surviving are a sister, Theresa Muhlberger; a brother-in-law, William
Muhlberger; nieces and a nephew; grandnieces and grandnephews, and members
of her congregation.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, George, John J. and Thomas
C. Brennan, and a sister, Mary Brennan.
John Friel Jr.
John S. Friel Jr., 73, of Horsham, husband of Helen F. Friel (born Smith),
died July 14, 2006.
Mr. Friel was general manager of the Blue Bell Inn.
He served for 17 years on the faculty of Northeast Catholic High School,
and coached basketball at the school for four seasons.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 21 at St. Catherine of Siena Church,
Horsham.
He was the father of John S. III, Andrew C. and Kristin Friel.
Also survived by four grandchildren.
Adele Matthews
Adele R. Matthews (born Zets), of Upper Darby, wife of Raymond Matthews,
died July 20, 2006.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 24 at St. Laurence Church, Highland
Park. Burial was at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield.
She was the mother of Demina Brooks, Raymond P. Matthews and Denise Matthews.
Also survived by three granddaughters and a sister, Carol Morris.
Sister Ann Murphy
Sister Ann Rita Murphy, G.N.S.H., died July 15, 2006, at the age of 89.
She was a member of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart for 68 years.
Sister Ann Rita was dean of Sacred Heart Junior College in Yardley, and
directress of novices for the congregation in 1959 to 1969, until her
appointment as secretary general of her congregation, a position she held
for 13 years.
In semi-retirement, from 1988 to 1993, she was the secretary in the Pastoral
Care Department of St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne.
She was an active reviewer of books for over 20 years; many of her reviews
were published in Sisters Today.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 19 at the motherhouse in Yardley.
Surviving are nieces, cousins and members of her congregation.
She was predeceased by two brothers, James A. and Walter T. Murphy, and
a sister, Mary M. Traenkle.
Patricia Ryan
Patricia Ann Ryan, 56, of Wynnewood, died July 13, 2006.
Miss Ryan was administrative assistant at the Country Day School of the
Sacred Heart, Bryn Mawr. She spent 37 years at Sacred Heart, both in Bryn
Mawr and in its original location in Overbrook.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 18 at Presentation B.V.M. Church,
Wynnewood. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken.
Surviving are sisters, Kathleen Bruder, Mary Ellen Ryan, Sally McNichol
and Rosemary McCarty; brothers, Joseph, Anthony, Thomas and Charles Ryan.
Also survived by 24 nieces and nephews and 29 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Sister Margaret Sinclair
Sister Margaret Jean Sinclair, S.H.C.J., the former Mother Mary Aelred,
died July 17, 2006 at the age of 91. She was a Sister of the Holy Child
Jesus for 69 years.
Sister Margaret Jean served in the Philadelphia Archdiocese for over 30
years. She began her ministry at West Catholic Girls’ High School.
She taught at Rosemont College for 20 years, and also served as Academic
Dean and dorm counselor. She also served on the society’s Rule Commission
in Drexel Hill.
From 1986 to 1988, she was office manager for the congregation’s
American Province Offices, Drexel Hill.
She also served in Rome, Illinois and Washington, D.C.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 22 at New Sharon Chapel, Rosemont.
Burial was at Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken.
Surviving are three nephews, one niece and members of her congregation.
George Snyder
George W. Snyder, 99, of Lansdowne, died July 18, 2006. He was the husband
of the late Ida Snyder (born Hopkins) and the late Catherine Snyder (born
Geoghegan).
Mr. Snyder retired in 1972 after working at Fidelity Bank for 49 years.
He served in the Army during World War II.
The funeral Mass was celebrated July 22 at St. Philomena Church, Lansdowne.
Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.
Surviving are a sister, Florence S. Byrom; four nieces and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, John and Frank Snyder,
and a sister, Catherine S. Shinn.